It could have been the most spectacular entry of a German retailer into #China  in years. As the company confirmed upon inquiry, the drugstore chain Müller had explored expanding into China with its own physical stores. The first branch was slated to open in Shanghai in the fourth quarter, with up to 500 locations envisioned. However, the retailer has now pulled back. "For the current phase, Müller has decided to focus its expansion efforts on Europe, particularly on the newl

Discount Retail Chain Lidl USA has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of its 200th store in the USA, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. This move by the Schwarz Group's discounter sends a powerful message in the fiercely competitive American food retail industry. Nine years after opening its initial 20 stores, it's evident that Lidl is here to stay and aims to transform the market over the long term. This expansion is not just a typical step for the int

Discount Retail Chain Lidl UK is building its first own pub in Belfast, Northern Ireland, right next to a Lidl supermarket. The reason for this is as curious as the idea itself. A discounter becomes an innkeeper Dundonald, a small suburb of the Northern Irish capital Belfast. Something unique is currently being built here: the world's first Lidl restaurant. The chain is building the pub right next to an existing supermarket, space for up to 60 guests. It is scheduled to open

DRC折扣零售咨询公司合伙人马克·胡珀曼斯（MarcHouppermans，以下简称马克）曾经在全球知名折扣店品牌Aldi任职13年，一度做到Aldi荷兰董事总经理的职位，全面负责Aldi在荷兰的门店扩张、供应链建设与自有品牌开发。近年来，他又以咨询顾问的身份参与了多个中国折扣店项目。 眼下，折扣店在中国已经形成燎原之势：盒马旗下超盒算NB门店数超过了400家；奥乐齐已有100余家门店，并且宣布要今年开出至少50家门店；而快乐猴、京东折扣超市两家互联网平台旗下的折扣店项目也加快开店速度。 在这样的背景下，《第三只眼看零售》专访了这位折扣业态的老兵，请他以“过来人”身份对中国折扣店发展进行复盘。 在马克看来，折扣店是一个漫长的赛道，需要开到500家门店才能实现整体盈利。“奥乐齐在澳大利亚和美国市场都是门店数到了500家以后才开始盈利的，在中国也会是这样一个趋势”，马克表示。 他认为，折扣店代表企业Aldi在欧洲是定位全客层消费的，但在中国，更多的中产阶层到奥乐齐消费，而中低收入群体通常在农贸市场购物。折扣店要得到中国全客层消费者的接纳，预计还需要1

Discount Retail Chain Chao He Suan (formerly Hema) NB (Neighbour Business) can replicate so rapidly across multiple Chinese cities and open numerous stores simultaneously without losing its "shape"? It isn’t achieved through intensive operations, high-touch service, or obsessive attention to detail. Instead, it relies on the retail logic of subtraction. The core secret lies in: Focusing on the Core and Reducing Actions. Focusing on the Core What exactly is the core? Standard

Discount Retail Chain No Brand, the renowned South Korean discounter grocery chain, has officially made its Thai debut through a landmark partnership between Central Retail Corporation (CRC) and Emart, marking a significant shift in Thailand’s retail landscape The launch reflects Central Retail’s strategic expansion in the food business, reinforcing its ambition to become a World-Class Grocery Destination while strengthening its position in Thailand’s retail market. Under thi

In 2026, the Chinese retail market has moved past the simple "supermarket vs. online" debate. It is now a high-stakes clash between five distinct discount retail business models. While these giants are expanding rapidly, they remain regionally focused, carving out "fortresses" in specific urban clusters across China. The Five-Way Strategic Clash (2026) The battle for the Chinese wallet is now split into five "tracks," each defined by a different logic of efficiency, branding,

As of March 2026, the Chinese retail market has hit a critical inflection point. While traditional hypermarkets contract, a new "Quality-Price Ratio" era has emerged, defined by Aldi's aggressive "hard discount" blitz and local retailers’ tech-driven defense. 1. The Aldi "Slam on the Accelerator" After taking nearly seven years to reach its 100th store in China, Aldi has suddenly pivoted to a high-speed growth phase. The 2026 Goal: Aldi plans to add over 50 new stores within

Discount Retail Chain Chaohesuan NB (a hard discount brand under Hema/Freshippo) at the Ku Young Center is already buzzing. Customers like Wang Jianfen are grabbing 1.2kg boxes of chilled beef short ribs for just 29.9 RMB. With 1.5L of premium milk priced at 7.2 RMB (44% below market average) and 24-bottle cases of water for 9.9 RMB, the appeal is clear: unbeatable quality-to-price ratio. Chinese hard discount format Chaohesuan NB surpassed 400 stores early this year and is n

The 2026 US retail landscape isn't just growing; it’s calibrating. The current wave of store openings reveals a "Flight to Utility"—where discounters and convenience stores are the primary drivers of physical expansion. Here is a breakdown of what these numbers actually signal about the American consumer. The 2026 US Expansion Leaderboard The "big five" aren't just opening doors; they are capturing specific segments of a tightening wallet: Retailer Planned Openings Strategic

Discount Retail Chain Action delivered a record-breaking performance in the 2025 financial year: Net Sales: €16.0 billion (↑ 16% vs. 2024). Operating EBITDA: €2.367 billion (↑ 14% vs. 2024). Profitability: Operating EBITDA margin reached 15.0% (adjusted for a one-off staff bonus celebrating the 3,000th store). Growth Drivers: Like-for-like (LFL) sales grew by 4.9%, supported by the addition of 384 new stores and an expansion into Switzerland and Romania. 2026 Q1 Trading & Out

Discount Variety Retail Chain Dollarama Inc. reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 1, 2026 with annual sales surpassing $7 billion. “We have met or exceeded our guidance for Fiscal 2026 on all metrics, despite unfavourable weather conditions in the fourth quarter which negatively impacted store traffic during peak sales periods. Looking at the full year, our compelling year-round value continued to resonate with Canadians, as we

Discount Retail Chain Aldi China, after seven years of deep cultivation and expansion, has finally reached the 100-store milestone in the Chinese market. On March 21, 2026, ALDI opened two new stores in Zhenjiang (Jiangsu Province) and one in the Minhang District of Shanghai, officially bringing its national total to 100. This marks a new phase of scale development and signals the acceleration of its layout across the Yangtze River Delta. Three New Stores Open in a Single Day

Discount Retail Chain Aldi Nord's US sister company Trader Joe's has become a cult brand in the USA. For the entrepreneurial family in Germany, success is particularly important. Because business in Europe is weakening. In Harlem, in northern Manhattan, Trader Joe's advertises cheap purchases. On the escalator in the entrance area, the discounter has painted the lettering "Prices" in bright colors on the wall, and in the store itself, the retailer has stylized dollar signs ev

Discount Retail Chains role is also gradually increasing. Their market share exceeded 44 percent; The small format of the retail chain such as convenience stores and drugstores, also record a significant growth rate and remain in good shape. The year 2025 brought a stabilization of consumer sentiment and an increase in the value of the FMCG market by 5.3 percent, despite a slight decrease in volume. Buyers are increasingly taking advantage of promotions and choosing higher qu

Discounters will remain the fastest-growing physical grocery channel globally through to 2030, with annual growth expected to outpace the wider grocery market, according to new research from IGD. Analysis from IGD’s Global discount trends 2026 report found the discount channel will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.8 per cent to 2030, almost a full percentage point ahead of the wider grocery market’s 4.0 per cent. The research said growth will be fuelled by sustained

Discount Retail Chain SAVA owned by Majid al Futtaim-owned has opened its 12th store in the UAE, its second store in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Its first store opened in Ras Al Khaimah in January 2026, followed by a new SAVA store in Al Ain on January 31st, 2026. SAVA is now present in six emirates in the UAE. SAVA is the discount grocery arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the Carrefour franchise partner in the Middle East and some markets in Africa. The first SAVA stores opened in

Discount Retail Chain Ara opened last year 225 new stores throughout the country and reached December with a total of 1,653. This, including the integration of stores that were operated by Colsubsidio Supermarkets, which were acquired by Ara. Jerónimo Martins, the company behind the Ara supermarket chain, announced the financial results of its operation during 2025. According to the report, during that year the company recorded sales of 14.7 billion pesos, 17.4% more than in